as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the playful competition over who would get the new office turned into a real dogfight
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dogfight
Andrew Harnik / Getty Images During the Korean War in 1952, Williams shot down four Soviet MiG-15 jets during a 35-minute dogfight with seven Soviet jets while flying off the coast of the Korean Peninsula.
—
CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Williams didn’t speak about the details of the encounter — even with family members — until records about the dogfight were declassified in 2002.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
In the skies over Korea in 1952, Royce was in the dogfight of a lifetime, legendary dogfight.
—February 25, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
In 1952, Royce was in the dogfight of a lifetime.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Williams didn’t speak about the details of the encounter — even with family members — until records about the dogfight were declassified in 2002.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
In the skies over Korea in 1952, Royce was in the dogfight of a lifetime, legendary dogfight.
—February 25, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
In 1952, Royce was in the dogfight of a lifetime.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogfight
Noun
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Devoted fans will catch every clever nod, while newcomers can enjoy the romance, rivalry, and Regency ridiculousness without the multi-volume commitment.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The long-simmering rivalry between Sunni and Shiite Muslims erupted into a civil war that killed tens of thousands of civilians.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Calamia won that battle — and then won first place in the race days later.—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Former President Barack Obama is promoting a Democratic effort to redraw congressional lines in Virginia, the latest front in a nationwide redistricting battle ahead of this year's midterm elections.—
MEG KINNARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Two top City Section baseball teams, El Camino Real and San Fernando, faced off Friday in a pitcher’s duel that went eight innings.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Both teams seem to be settling into a duel between two aces.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As job cuts pile up, Tinner is up against intense competition in a job market flooded with talent from the top companies in tech.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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The launch comes as competition in China’s electric vehicle market intensifies, and manufacturers search for new technologies to attract buyers.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The matchup between the two incumbent Republicans highlights a greater struggle of generational change that both parties are facing.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
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For many in the middle and lower tiers, simply staying afloat now feels like a struggle.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the cat-and-mouse game of drone warfare, the Ukrainians have also built up a layered defense against the Shahed and its variants – and claim to have seen significant success in countering Russian drone swarms.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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Iraqis breathed a few gulps of freedom before secular warfare between Sunni and Shia militias began tearing the country apart.—
Nolan Finley,
Twin Cities,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Both massive aircraft can act as the president’s emergency operations hub in times of national security threats, such as a nuclear war.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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When the war in Gaza erupted, the Houthis fired ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, in solidarity with the Palestinians, and imposed their chokehold on Red Sea shipping lanes.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Analysts say intelligence sharing would represent a low-risk way for Russia to support Iran while avoiding direct confrontation with the United States, even as Moscow balances in the region.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
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Ideological opposition turned to proxy confrontation through Iran's support for Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, and for Hezbollah, which fought Israel during its long occupation of southern Lebanon.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dogfight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogfight. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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